Means for operating roller-awnings.



YPATENTED AUG. 16,1904.

A,L.0LARK7 MEANS FOR OPERATING ROLLER AWNINGS.

APPLIOATIO-N FILED SEPT. 25, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES:

65. Q I W171i [D m No. 767,389. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904. A. L. CLARK.

MEANS FOR OPERATING ROLLERv AWNINGS.

APPLIGATION FILED 821333.26, 1902. no MODEL. 2 HHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIIIIIIIIIII WITNESSES UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904,

ALFRED L. CLARK, OF DUBUQUE,'IO'WA.

MEANS FOR OPERATING ROLLER-AWNINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 767,389, dated August 16, 1904.

Application filed September 25, 1902. Serial No. 124,760. (No model.)

To all whom. it 77?/fb 7/ concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. CLARK,a citi- Zen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Operating Roller-Awnings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention. which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and us the same.

My invention relates to means for operating roller-awnings; and one of the objects is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and convenient device for center supports for the awningroller which permits the awning-cloth to be rolled and unrolled without special strain thereon, even if it should crimp or fold while in the process of rolling, and the supports so constructed that they will adapt themselves to any irregularities of the roller, with the awning cloth thereon, at any stage of the rolling.

Another object is to provide means for operating the awning-roller, rolling and unrolling the same from the inside of the building, where it cannot be interfered with either by the weather or mischievous persons or in any other manner. 7

Still another object is to adapt it to be used for operating the awning, whether it be placed in front of the first story or any or all of the upper stories of the same building.

The manner in which 1 accomplish the objects herein will be fully pointed out in the following specification when read in connection with the drawings accompanying the same and forming a part hereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device without the awning-cloth when attached to two stories of a building. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the box containing the gear for operating the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the center of Fig. 9. and also section through the front wall of the build ing, showing means for securing the box to the inside of the building and operating gears, together with a part section and a part side elevation of the operating-rod in position for operating the awning-roller, with worm-gears attached. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of one of the center supports. Fig. 5 is a modified form of Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the upper brackets. Fig. 7 is a top view of one side of the upper bevel-gear used in the box shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the opposite side of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a plan view of the plate 41 shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a section of the gearwheel and axle attached to the awning-roller. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a gear used in the box when the gear is operated from the outside of a building, also showing the bearing or axle similar to the bearing of the gear shown in Figs. 7 and 8. v Fig. 12 is adetail showing the supporting and guide rollers in end elevation, with the awning-roller shown in section.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates one of the under center supports, 2 one of its arms, and 4 the other arm. At the outer end of the arm 4 is pivoted two rollers 5 and at the end of the arm 2 the rollers 7, all of which are practically set in the same horizontal plane.

The supporting-rollers 5 and 7 are so arranged with relation to the awning-roller 6 that the latter extends therebetween with its axis slightly above theaxes of the supporting-rollers, the rollers 5 being disposed in front of the awning-rollerand the rollers 7 being disposed in the rear of the awning-roller and each set of rollers engaging the awning-roller at different points in its length, whereby the awning-roller is supported at different places and the strain upon the supporting-rollers when the awning is rolled or unrolled is reduced to a minimum, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter. This support is pivoted to the front of the building by a bolt 11, passing through its back plate 9, whereby the plate, with the rollers, is permitted to swing vertically in a plane parallel with the axis of the awning-roller, but is restrained from other movements. here the awning is very short,

this bracket may be made as shown in Fig. 5, having a back plate 12, provided with an arm 1&, and the rollers 5, pivoted at the outer end of the arm 14. From the plate 12 extends another arm, 14, to which is pivoted a roller 7, adapted to engage in the rear of the awningroller, bringing the upper surface of both rollers in practically the same plane and the awning-roller resting upon and between the rollers 5 and 7. Over the top of the awningroller 6 is set another bracket 8, (shown in Fig. 6,) with a back plate 15 and an arm 16 projecting out at a slight angle to the build ing and curved downward, to which are pivoted the two rollers 18. This bracket is also pivoted to the side of the building by a bolt 19 in such a manner that the rollers are adapted to contact with the top of the awning-roller. lVhere the awning-roller is exceedingly long, the supports 1 and brackets 8 may be distributed at intervals along the whole length of the roller 6. It will be manifest by this mode of constructing the supports and the overhanging brackets and by pivoting them to the wall of the building that if the awning-cloth crimps or folds when it is rolled or unrolled the rollers will tip and yield sufii ciently to allow the folds to be rolled in without any special strain thereon and with the least possible strain on the operating-gears, and, further, there will be only the minimum of contact-surface of the rollers of the supports and brackets on the awning-cloth, whereby the life of the awning will be largely extended. The awning-roller 6, with which these supports are used, is preferably made of a small tube terminating at one end in a bearing and adapted to roll in the bracket 20, attached to the side of the building. To the other end of the roller 6 is secured a gear-wheel 21, which has an axle 22 thereon and adapted to engage and rotate in a bracket 24, secured to the wall of the building. The other end of the axle 22 is made much larger and of sufiicient size to fill the end of the tubular roller 6 and is inserted in said roller, and the roller is securely held by a rivet 17, passing through the roller and axle, as shown in Fig. 10. A. convenient mode of making the wheel and axle is to cast them with a rod of wrought or malleable iron in the center of the axle.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the awning-rollers may be arranged above the windows of each story of the building, and on the end of each awning-roller is mounted a gear-wheel 21., which meshes with a gear 27, secured to a common operating-shaft 26, which is disposed vertically at one corner of the building and journaled in suitable bearings 23, secured to the wall of the building. Vhen the awning-rollers are superposed, as shown in Fig. 1, the gears on the operatingshaft 26 are preferably worm-gears, so that the weight of the awnings will not cause them to be accidentally unrolled, the worm-gearing constituting a locking means for the awning-rollers.

For the purpose of operating the gears attached to the various auming-rollers there is secured to the side of the building, below the rollers, a box 25, consisting of a back plate 29, which forms the rear of the box. To this plate are fastened the caps 28 and 30, forming the wall of the box, and the box thus formed is partially stayed to the wall of the building by bolts 31. In the cap 28 is pivoted a bevel-gear 33 and in the cap 30 another bevel-gear 34, which gears mesh into each other. The cap 28 is open on its under side for the purpose of inspecting. oiling, and caring for the gears 33 and 34, which are retated in the box. The gear 33 is cast, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, with a large round shoulder or axle 35, having a square hole 32 therethrough,which axle fitsinto and is adapted to rotate in a hole in the cap 28. This construction furnishes a large, strong, and steady bearing for the gear 33 in the cap 28. In the upper surface of the gear 33 there are a number of recesses 36, in which a pin 37 may be inserted through the cap 28 to prevent the gear from rotating and the awning from unrolling after it has been rolled up, and this lockingpin 37 is only employed when the gears on the operating-shaft 26 are bevelgears, in which case itis sometimes desirable to operate the awning-rollers from the outside of the building, as will be pointed out hereinafter. The rod 26, which carries the gear 27, terminates at its lower end in a square and adapted to just fit into the square hole 32 in the axle of the gear 33.

For the purpose of attaching the box 25 to the wall of the building on the inside the plate 29 is provided with a tubular projection 38, which is set in a recess in the side of the wall of the building. Through this plate and the wall is a hole, through which is inserted a tube 40. This tube is screwed into the tubular projection 38. Upon the inner end of the tube 40, against the inner side of the wall of the building, is set a plate 41, (shown in Figs. 3 and 9,) provided with a projection 42, and a plurality of apertures 41. The plate 41 is screwed upon the inner end of the tube 40 and against the inner wall of the building. In this manner the box 25 is rigidly held against the outside of the wall of the building by its connection with the inner surface of the wall and can be readily attached and detached; Through the plate 41 and tube 40 passes a crank-shaft 45, to the outer end of which is secured the bevel-gear 34 in the box 25. To the inner end of the crank-shaft 45 is a crank-arm 46 with a handle 47, by which the gear 34 is rotated.

The operating-shaft 26 terminates short of the under face of the gear 33, so that a wrenchsocket is provided by the polygonal aperture 32 in said gear, and when the awnings are to be operated from the outside of the building, as before explained, a wrench may be inserted in this socket and the shaft rotated, and the shaft and awning-rollers may then be locked by the pin 37, which engages one of the holes 36 in the gear 33; but when worm-gearing is employed for operating a plurality of superposed awnings the locking-pin 37 is dispensed with, and the crank-arm &6, extending through the wall of and into the interior of the building, is rotated, and through the adjunctive mechanism the shaft 26 is rotated. As before stated, the worm-gear on the shaft 26 will lock theparts against rotation; but if bevel orspur gearing is employed in lieu of the worm-gearing the parts may be locked against rotation by a pin 50, which may be inserted in one of the apertures ll in the plate 41, and in such position it will extend in the path of the crankarm #16 and prevent it from turning.

Changes in form of construction may be adopted by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with an awning-roller, of a bracket mounted to swing vertically ina plane parallel with the axis of the awningroller, and rollers carried by the bracket.

2. The combination with an awning-roller, of a bracket mounted to swing in a vertical plane parallel with the axis of the awningroller and stayed from other movements, and having arms at each end. and rollers journaled on the arms and arranged upon opposite sides of the awning-roller.

3. The combination with an awning-roller, of a bracket mounted to swing in a vertical plane parallel with the axis of the awningroller, supporting rollers carried by the bracket and arranged to engage the awningroller upon opposite sides thereof and at different points in its length.

4. The combination with an awning-roller, of a bracket mounted to swing vertically in a plane parallel with the axis of the awningroller and stayed from other movements, arms extending from each end of the bracket, supporting-rollers mounted in each arm and arranged upon opposite sides of the awningroller with their axes maintained in parallelism, whereby each roller engages the awningroller at different points in its length.

5. In a device for-operating roller-awnings, the combination with superposed awning-rollers arranged at each story of'the building and each havinga gear mounted thereon, of a common operating-shaft disposed vertically and adjacent to one end of each awning-roller and having gears meshing with the gears of each awning roller, a crank shaft extending through the wall of the building, gearing connecting the crank-shaft with the operating shaft, and means on the inside of the building to lock the crank-shaft against rotation, whereby all the awnings of the building may be operated simultaneously.

6. In a device for operating roller-awnings,

the combination with superposed awning-rollers having gears mounted thereon, of a com mon operating-shaft having gears meshing with the gears on the awning-rollers and also having a gear on the lower end thereof,a crankshaft extending through the wall of the building and having a gear meshing with the gear on the end of the operating-shaft, acasing for the last-mentioned gears, a plate surrounding the crank-shaft on the inner side of the wall of the building, and a tubular member connecting the plate and the casing to hold the latter to the wall of the building and to provide a hearing for the crank-shaft.

7. In a device for operating roller-awnings, the combination with an awning-roller having a gear thereon, an operating-shaft having a gear meshing with the gear on the awning-. roller and also having a gear on the lower end thereof, a crank-shaft extending through the wall of the building and having a gear meshing with the gear on the lower. end of the operating-shaft, a casing for the last-mentioned gears, and means extending through the wall of the building to anchor the casing thereto.

8. In adevice for operating rollerawnings, the combination with the awning-rollers hav ing a gear thereon, an operating-shaft having a gear meshing with the gear on the awningroller, a plate secured to the wall of the building, a casing secured to said plate, a gear on the end of the operating-shaft journaled in said casing, a crank-shaft having a gear in mesh with the gear on the ends of the operatingshaft and having a bearing in said casing, a plate secured to the inner side of the wall of the building, a sleeve surrounding the crank-shaft and extending into engagement at each end with the first-mentioned plate and the plate on the inside of the wall, and means engaging the plate on the inside of the wall to lock the crank-shaft against rotation.

9. In a device for operating roller-awnings, the combination with superposed awningroll ers arranged above the windows of each story of the-building, and each roller having a gear thereon, of a common operating-shaft having gears thereon arranged to engage with the gears of the several awning-rollers, a casing secured to the wall of the building, a gear on the end of said shaft and having a bearing in the casing, a second gear having a bearing in said casing and. in mesh with the gear on the end of the shaft, means extending from the last-mentioned gear through the wall of the building and accessible from the interior.

thereof to operate all of the awning-rollers conjointly, and means for locking the parts against rotation, substantially as specified.

10. In means for operating roller-awnings, an awning-roller, sustaining-brackets, a gear upon said roller, a rod provided with a gear adapted to engage the gear upon the awningroller, a box attached to the building formed of the caps 28 and 30, gears set in the box, an

opening through the wall of the building, atube connecting the box with the inside of the building and a crank passing through the tube and connecting with the gears in the box, for rotating the rod to operate the awning-roller.

11. In means for operating roller-awnings, awning-rollers arranged one above the other, sustaining-brackets for each roller, a gear upon each roller, center supports for each awning-roller pivoted to the building and provided with rollers adapted to contact with the awning-roller, a rod provided with a gear adapted to mesh into each of the gears on the various awning-rollers, and means for rotating said rod to roll and unroll the awning-rollers conjointly, consisting of a box, bevel-gear in the box and a crank passing through the wall of the building and engaging the bevel-gear.

12. .In a device for operating roller-awnings, the combination with the awning-roller, of a bracket pivoted to the wall of the building and mounted to swing vertically in a plane parallel with the axis of the awning-roller and stayed from horizontal movement, arms extending from each end of the bracket, a roller journaled upon each side of each arm and arranged'upon opposite sides of the awningroller and each set of rollers being spaced apart with respect to the length of the awning-roller, and a pair of guide-rollers disposed above the awning-roller and capable of swinging in a vertical plane parallel with the axis of the awning-roller.

13. The combination with an awning-roller, of supporting-rollers therefor arranged in pairs and spaced apart with respect to the length of the awning-roller and engaging opposite sides thereof.

14:. The combination with an awning-roller, of supporting-rollers therefor mounted to swing in a vertical plane parallel with the awning-roller, said supporting-rollers being spaced apart with respect to the length of the awning-roller and engaging opposite sides thereof.

15. In a device for operating roller-awnings,

the combination with superposed awning-rollers arranged at each story of the building and each having a gear mounted thereon, a bracket arranged to swing in a vertical plane parallel with the axis of each awning-roller, supporting-rollers carried by the bracket arranged to engage each awning-roller upon opposite sides thereof and at different points in its length, a common operating shaft having gearing meshing with the gears on the awning-roller, gearing connected at the lower end of the operating-shaft, and means for operating said gearing and awning-rollers.

16. In a device for operating roller-awnings, the combination with superposed awning-rollers arranged at each story of the building and each having a gear mounted thereon, of supporting-rollers therefor arranged in pairs and spaced apart with respect to the length of the awningroller and engaging opposite sides thereof, a common operating-shaft arranged adjacent to each awning-roller and having gearing meshing with the gears on each awning-roller, gearing connected at the lower end of the operating-shaft, and means for operating said gearing to operate all of the awningrollers conjointly.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED L. CLARK. l/Vitnesses:

M. M. CADY, MAE ODEA. 

